Tag Archives: disability

Book Review: Growing Gills

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Jennie Spotila

I usually focus my book reviews on titles that are directly related to ME, but I’m making an exception today because I want to tell you about Growing Gills by Jessica Abel. This book is about creativity, not disease, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Occupying | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

#MillionsMissing 2017

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Jennie Spotila
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Preconditions, Burdens and Ableism

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Jennie Spotila

Who are we, as people with ME? Are we “patients”? Are we defined by the disease and its impact on our lives? Which comes first: me or ME? This is a question of identity, and how language can bestow or … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Pretty Much the Worst

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Jennie Spotila

One of the worst things someone said to me recently about my disability was: With all the stuff you’re doing, you work just as hard as someone working full time. The charitable and loving way to interpret this statement is: … Continue reading →

Posted in Occupying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments

Long Term Disability Insurance/ERISA

Posted on January 16, 2016 by Jennie Spotila

If you are fortunate, then your employer provides you with disability insurance. When you become disabled, this insurance pays you a percentage of your salary, and you are not solely dependent on Social Security Disability. In real life, it is … Continue reading →

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Two Is Better Than One

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

My confidence in two-day cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is pretty obvious on this blog. A new study from ME/CFS experts Dr. Chris Snell, Staci Stevens, Dr. Todd Davenport, and Dr. Mark VanNess supplies hard data that shows how important a … Continue reading →

Posted in Research | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Sometimes It’s One of Those Times

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

Sometimes, life just vomits in your lap. One thing after another goes wrong, and you feel like you’re juggling roaring chainsaws while pedaling a unicycle. Or maybe that’s just me. 2013 has been challenging, to say the least. I’m fully … Continue reading →

Posted in Occupying | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Moving On Up

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

For years, the Pacific Fatigue Lab at the University of the Pacific has done the best research on exercise and ME/CFS. Staci Stevens, Dr. Chris Snell, and their collaborators perfected the use of two-day cardio-pulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in people … Continue reading →

Posted in Occupying, Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I Heard the News Today, Oh Boy

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

What is there to say about something like the Boston Marathon bombing? There is no sane way to reconcile the gruesome images, the suffering and destruction with our need to believe that we are safe. We are privileged enough in … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

In Which I Rant at NPR

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

Two weeks ago, NPR published a story about the rise in Social Security disability claims. The bottom line of the story is that unemployed people are choosing to go on SSDI because they have conditions that prevent them from doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments